Mahari

The Mahari are a cultural group that exists in the city of Crowstead. They dominate the neighborhood of Templetown in the New City. Their culture centers around their religion, and like all of the cultural groups of Crowstead they have little consistency in terms of phenotype.

Social Organization
The Mahari do not practice nuclear families in the way that other cultures, nor do they practice even a clan system like the Oromo. Their society are organized by city blocks, with a temple at every block presided over by a "Zor" or "Learned Reader". These Zors are leaders in the community, but they have no definitive power, and are looked at as sage's and counselors. Men and women are free to pair or otherwise sexually engage with each other as they wish. There are no rules on coupling among pairs, or groups, nor is there a pressure to produce more children. Children are named by their mother but are raised by the community, referring to adults as mother or grandmother, or father, or grand father as the supposed age denotes. Being called a grandfather or grandmother is a sign of respect, as age is heavily associated with wisdom. Children are given free reign to move about, but the expectation is any Mahari adults will supervise the children as a parent would. Traditional families do occur, and they are neither shamed nor encouraged. There is an "Oath swearing" that is practiced by Mahari called a, "Qassami". It is similar to marriage, but can easily be undone through a, "Monravassimi" or dissolution. Zors are expected to constrained, and model good behavior whenever possible, and or those cultural traits disseminate through the culture more broadly.

Religion
The Mahari believe in a single unifying god, that they call Ahari Mazdah. Ahari Mazdah is a dual-natured god, and according to the Mahari his nature is tied to the health, happiness, and positive utility of humanity. If humans are flourishing and making the world better, than Ahari Mazdah is a god of joy, love, happiness, and light. If the humanity engages in war, slavery, plagues, etc. Than Ahari Mazdah is the great destroyer. Most Mahari believe the magical apocalypse was a consequence of the darkness of Ahari Mazdah. All Mahari are taught to wonder about how their actions affect the community, and thereby their god. This is not to say that Mahari are pacifists, but they try to maximize the utility of all parties involved whenever possible. That being said, family/church community are very tight, and to wrong one Mahari is to wrong them all.

Mahari believe in a place of light and love called Ill-Yannah, and a place of darkness and fire called Gehenna. They believe that when a person dies, their works are measured by Ahari Mazdah and he treats them with kindness or cruelty for what they've done.